Name:______________________Period______
Earth’s Structure Lab
Physical Science
Earths Layers
Observe the two beakers on the table. One beaker contains a mixture of solids, while the
other contains a mixture of liquids.
1.) What do you observe about the mixture of solids compared to the mixture of liquids?
2.) Since the earth is separated into layers, do you think that the earth was once
completely solid, or do you think it was once mostly liquid? Why?
3.) Where would you find the densest layer on the earth?
A hard boiled egg is a good model of the layers of the earth. Observe the layers of a hard
boiled egg. Note the thickness and relative feel of each layer.
1.) Draw a picture of the layers observed in the egg and label the layers that
correspond to the crust, the mantle, and the core?
2.) Which layer of the earth is the densest? Why?
Name:______________________Period______
ConvectionCaution- Use a paper towel to hands the hot beaker when necessary.
- Fill a beaker with cold water
- Turn on the hot plate and let it warm up for 30 seconds
- Place the beaker of water on the hotplate.
- Drop 1 drop of food coloring into the beaker from approximately 1 foot above it.
- Observe the pattern of the food coloring as it travels and spreads throughout the
container
- Turn of the hot plate and let glass cool for 1 minute
- Rinse the glass and repeat.
- When you are finished make sure the hotplate is turned off, rinse the glass
well, and return everything to its place.
1.) What pattern did you observe the food coloring drop travel? You may either describe
it or draw a picture.
2.) Why do you think it traveled in this pattern?
3.) How does this pattern help drive the theory of continental drift?
PangaeaLook at the continent pieces below, as well as the map of the world which shows the
location of mid ocean ridges. Connect the continents into one large land mass by looking
at their shape as well as fossil clues.
1.) What evidence do you see that supports the idea of continental drift?
2.) What factors helped you put together this continent puzzle?
Name:______________________Period______
Plate Boudaries- Using play-do, build your own model of a convergent and a transform plate boundary.
Draw a picture of each below.
- Using your convergent boundary, push the ends of the plates together and observe what
happens.
- Using the transverse model, rub the edges of the plates together.
Convergent Model-
Transverse Model
1.) What feature commonly forms at convergent boundaries? How does it form?
2.) What commonly occurs at transverse faults due to severe sticking and slipping?
Subduction ZonesGo to the interactive website <www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/slip2.html.>
Define the following terms
TrenchContinental PlateOceanic PlateMagmaWhat is the denser, the oceanic plate, or the continental plate?
Draw a picture of the subduction zone below
Name:______________________Period______
Earth’s Layers
 Earth is divided into three main layers
•
•
•
 Crust
• The thin, rocky, outer layer
• 5 - 75 km thick
• Continental Crust = ________________
• Oceanic Crust = ___________________
 Mantle
• Thick Layer of hot solid rock
• 2850 km thick
• Three layers



 Core
• Dense sphere of metal at earth’s center
• 3480 km thick
• Made of mostly iron
• _____________ Core = Liquid due to high temps
• ____________ Core = Solid due to high pressure
 ______________
• Continents originally arranged in one large super
continent called ______________
• Over time they drifted to their current locations.
Name:______________________Period______
Plate Tectonics
 Sea Floor Spreading
• Mid Ocean Ridge
 Crack in the crust where magma pushes
upward
• ______ sea floor forms
• ______ sea floor is pushed away
 Subduction Zone
• Old oceanic sinks into the mantle under continental
plate
• Oceanic crust destroyed and recycled
•
•
 Convection
•
• Magma Rises through cracks at the mid ocean ridge,
and then it cools and sinks at subduction zones
 Plate Boundaries
•
 Mountains
 Subduction Zones
•
 Sea Floor Spreading
•
 Earthquakes
Name:______________________Period______
Earth’s Layers
 Earth is divided into three main layers
•
•
•
 Crust
•
• 5 - 75 km thick
• Continental Crust = ________________
• Oceanic Crust = ___________________
 Mantle
•
• 2850 km thick
• Three layers



 Core
•
• 3480 km thick
• Made of mostly iron
• _____________ Core = Liquid due to high temps
• ____________ Core = Solid due to high pressure
 ______________
• Continents originally arranged in one large super
continent called ______________
• Over time they drifted to their current locations.
Name:______________________Period______
Plate Tectonics
 ___________________
•
 Crack in the crust where magma pushes
upward
• ______ sea floor forms
• ______ sea floor is pushed away
 ____________________
• Old oceanic sinks into the mantle under continental
plate
•
•
•
 Convection
•
•
 Plate Boundaries
•


•
 Sea Floor Spreading
•
